West Midlands Police chief faces possible criminal charges after top secret documents stolen from his car
An ex-counter terrorism boss is facing possible criminal charges after top secret documents were stolen from his unmarked police car, it can be revealed.
Scotland Yard confirmed it is investigating West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale after thieves took a locked box containing 'sensitive' police files from his vehicle.
It is understood the Metropolitan Police investigation is looking at possible breaches of the Official Secrets Act and whether there are any 'criminal liabilities'.
Mr Beale, who was head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, has not been arrested and remains at West Midlands Police but has moved to a new job overseeing motorways policing, health and safety, and the force response control room.
The Met said it would not discuss details of the stolen items for 'security reasons'.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service's Specialist Operations and Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating an alleged failure to safeguard sensitive documents after items were stolen from a West Midlands' officer's unmarked car in May.
"A number of personal belongings were taken during the theft, along with a locked box containing the documents relating to police matters.
"The theft of the vehicle is being investigated locally.
"Due to the nature of the documents list, the Metropolitan Police Service was asked by West Midlands Police to undertake an independent investigation into any potential criminal liabilities."
The Met said the documents were of a 'sensitive nature' and the measures had been taken to 'mitigate any potential risk to security or harm.
A statement added: "We are not prepared to discuss the content of those documents for security reasons".
A Met spokesman added that they were not prepared to discuss the scope of the investigation while it was ongoing.
When approached by the Express & Star, West Midlands Police confirmed the Met investigation and issued a near-identical statement.
It was revealed earlier this year that classified documents had been stolen from Mr Beale's car on May 15.
The disclosure came days after the London Bridge terror attack while the country was on high alert following the Manchester Arena bombing.
Mr Beale joined West Midlands Police in 2011 from Staffordshire Police as an experienced Assistant Chief Constable.
He was one of four senior officers who were investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission over the botched Kevin Nunes murder investigation.
He faced no further action over the inquiry.
During his time leading West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit he has worked closely with MI5 on a number of high-profile investigations.
In recent years the department has focused on Syria and Islamic State related terrorism crimes, including the dropped prosecution of former Guantanamo Bay detainee and Wolverhampton University student Moazzam Begg.
